Queensbury High School senior Bryce LaLone has been awarded the Heart of Gold Scholarship sponsored by O’Brien Insurance.
The Heart of Gold Scholarship honors those rare individuals who embody the true spirit of selflessness and quiet compassion. The $2,500 award was open to graduating seniors from Glens Falls, Queensbury, South Glens Falls and Hudson Falls.
“This award is not for the student with the most service hours or the longest résumé,” according to a statement. “It is for the one whose kindness is second nature, whose generosity is woven into who they are, and who gives not for recognition, but simply because it’s the right thing to do.”
The scholarship committee was looking for “unsung heroes” who:
always put others before themselves, even when no one is watching;
practice "paying it forward" in big and small ways;
go out of their way to help others without being asked or expecting anything in return;
share what they have with those in greater need;
uplift others with simple, everyday acts of kindness — a smile, a helping hand, a listening ear;
live with compassion and humility, flying under the radar and doing good without fanfare; and
volunteer not for hours on a form, but because love and care come naturally to them.
This scholarship recognizes a student who lives to serve — not out of obligation, but out of love.